How to Make Money Betting American Pharoah in Haskell

Jockey Victor Espinoza and trainer Bob Baffert meet with the media the day after American Pharoah completed the sweep of the Triple Crown in the Belmont Stakes. (Photo by Eclipse Sportswire)
It’s hard to believe it’s almost been two months since American Pharoah broke the 37-year Triple Crown “curse” and etched his name in horse racing’s history books alongside the sport’s immortals.
On Sunday in the William Hill Haskell Invitational Stakes, American Pharoah will race for the first time since completing the Triple Crown sweep with a victory in the Belmont Stakes. He will be the first Triple Crown winner to run at Monmouth Park.
With a record crowd expected at “The Shore’s Greatest Stretch” for the three-day Pharoah Phan Phestival, American Pharoah will face seven challengers in the 1 1/8-mile Haskell, which is scheduled for 5:52 p.m. ET. The Haskell will be televised on NBC from 5-6 p.m. ET. and the purse recently was increased to a record $1.75-million.
Trainer Bob Baffert has a phenomenal record in this Grade 1 stakes race, having saddled 12 runners with a record seven wins as well as three seconds and one third. Baffert also was the first to have back-to-back wins for the same owner in the Haskell — the Thoroughbred Corp owned both Point Given and War Emblem. Additionally, his trainees have won more than $5-million in Haskell purse money.
The Baffert-Victor Espinonza duo has been here before and is no stranger to making history at Monmouth. The 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner War Emblem became the first Kentucky Derby victor to prevail in the Haskell, leading from start to finish to win by 3 ½ lengths as the 3-to-10 favorite.
The Baffert-Zayat Stables duo also has seen glory here before. In 2012, the Zayat’s beloved Paynter won this race by 3 ¾ lengths.
While I believe that American Pharoah is the best horse in the race, and I hope to see him win, stay healthy and maybe even run in the Travers Stakes later this summer at Saratoga Race Course, I do know that this is horse racing and anything can happen.
Horse racing is no stranger to monumental upsets – Cigar’s then-record 16-race winning streak ended by Dare and Go, Secretariat’s two losses in three starts to the late, great giant killer Allen Jerkens’ Onion and Prove Out and countless other defeats with huge payouts.
Haskell Analysis:
#4 American Pharoah: Since losing his debut race, American Pharoah is undefeated in seven starts. After reeling off the Triple Crown sweep, this elite runner looks much the best. A victory here would be his eighth win on his seventh different racetrack and his fifth Grade 1 win in a row.
#2 Competitive Edge: Excluding his last race in the Woody Stephens Stakes on the Belmont Stakes undercard, this multiple graded stakes-winning Todd Pletcher trainee kicked off his career with four straight wins. I think he’s Pharoah’s biggest competition. Looking at past Equibase Speed Figures, Competitive Edge has the highest one of anyone in the field (115), including American Pharoah. A colt by 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver, Competitive Edge has been training extremely well and, with Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith aboard, he’s got a chance at pulling the upset of the year. Pletcher trails only Baffert in Haskell wins with three of his own.
Betting Strategy:
To me, there’s no point betting the favorite to win in this race and would it really be a surprise if a seven-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer and Hall of Fame jockey upset this race? No, so I’m going with the odds for my Haskell bets.
$0.50 trifecta: #4 American Pharoah with #2 Competitive Edge, #1 Upstart, #6 Keen Ice with ALL = $9
$0.50 trifecta: #2 Competitive Edge with ALL with #4 American Pharoah = $3
$0.10 superfecta: #4 American Pharoah with #2 Competitive Edge with ALL with ALL = $3
$0.10 superfecta: #2 Competitive Edge with #4 American Pharoah with ALL with ALL = $3 
Saver bet - $2 exacta: #2 Competitive Edge with #4 American Pharoah = $2 
Total bets: $20
Don’t forget, the Haskell is a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” race. The winner will receive an automatic birth into the Breeders’ Cup Classic, which will be run in Lexington, Ky. at Keeneland Race Course on Oct. 31, 2015. Be sure to watch the Haskell Sunday on NBC, live from Monmouth Park from 5-6 p.m ET.
$1.75-million William Hill Haskell Invitational StakesSunday, Monmouth Park, Race 12, Post time 5:52 p.m. ET on NBC1 1/8 miles, dirt, 3-year-olds

PP

Horse

Jockey

Trainer

Owner

ML

1

Upstart

Joe Bravo

Rick Violette

Ralph Evans and WinStar Farm

6-1

2

Competitive Edge

Mike Smith

Todd Pletcher

Nancy Favreau Kathy Psoinos and Michael Tabor

8-1

3

Nonna’s Boy

TBA

Todd Pletcher

Repole Stables

30-1

4

American Pharoah

Victor Espinonza

Bob Baffert

Zayat Stables

1-5

5

Mr. Jordan

Paco Lopez

Eddie Plesa

David Melin Leon Ellman and Laurie Plesa

15-1

6

Keen Ice

Kent Desormeaux

Dale Romans

Donegal Racing

12-1

7

Top Clearance

Abel Castellano Jr

Wayne Catalano

Gary and Mary West

30-1

8

Dontbetwithbruno

TBA

Todd Pletcher

Repole Stables

30-1

AMERICAN PHAROAH ARRIVES AT MONMOUTH